Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-13
Married to a Lunatic.

WOMAN WHO SAYS SHE LEADS LIFE OF TERROR
THE CASE OF WM. N. BRYANT.
Mr. VIM. NJ. Bryant, who has been a well-known
real estate dealer here, and who was recently re-
leased by order OF the court from confinement in
ST. Elizabeth's Asylum, created a sensation on 9th
street, near F, yesterday afternoon by appearing
at his window in strange costume and finally
showing himself completely nude. He was taken
into custody by the police as an insane person.
He He had had appeared the evening before at
agent. with whom he was formerly associated.
and smashed up a part OF the Office furniture Mrs
Bryant OF 7O7 Sth street. wife OF the supposed in
sane man, writes to The STAR to correct state
"Ieigned' insanity. Mr. Bryant, She says, since nee
s Yea yea ana for over
cinity as dangerous lunatic. ''SoOn after his re-
lease (on technicality in his commitment)r she
writes, she married me, and did not know at the
time the full particulars OF his life, but accepted
him, as others have done in business, as a sane
man. My life has been one OF terror these three
years. for in that time he has caused me to be
broken up!in home improperly and TO suffer ire
parable loss, TO say nothing of the danger to nv
life, so frequently jeopardlzed. OF late he posi-
lively refused to provide for me- though only hay-
ing done so from September last to January. He
was doing very well in Burfords Office, as the COM
missions he made were to be divided between
them. Last July he attempted my life and nv
daughter and myself made our escape by jumping
from secOnd-story window and running at three
am. from 11th to 9th street, when we hid behind
the counter in StandifOrd'S drug store. No DO
lice came for an hour or Two, though had notified
them OF his insanity during the day. Finally sew
eral came and took him to the station, and he was
committed to st. Elizabeth.
'.In five weeks after he was liberated by Judge
Merrick, through the efforts OF his lawyer. But
am mother of family, and trying to earn my
living, and do most earnestly protest against his
liberation from the.asylum again, and ask you, as
an influential medium OF the press, TO investigate
and use your influence TO prevent the lOOSiDg or
dangerous lunatic upon the community again,
one whose hands are already stained with the
VIM hny nvn0 0cfn bod
one, whose life hung by thread for weeks after.
His release was against the earnest advice of Dr.
GOdding. II his opinion is OF no account there
should be placed over the asylum one whose opin-
ion should command the respect of those who
have no experience with the insane. This trial by
jury Is farce and should be changed. No casual
observer would call Mr.. Bryant insane; but l. as
his wife, know the dangerous character OF the
man, and fear for my life should he be released
again, as have feared every day and hour since
have known him"
Bryant was still confined at the first precinct
cell in nude condition, having torn up The cloth
Ing which the police furnished him. This morn
ing he seemed somewhat calmer, and permitted
the ]anltOr at the station to dress him The police
surgeons examined him to-day, and 1t is probable
that he will he sent to the insane aSyluIn Mrs
Bryant, his wife, called to him at the station
this afternoon. She represented to Lieut.. AmiSS
that she feared for her life IL he allowed to 90
free, and expressed regret that there were legal
he had lucid interval. She told STAR reporter
to-day that he seemed to have violent attacks Of
INSANITY every SIX months. His mania, she Said
seemed to be money. On the occasion that she
fed from the house to escape from him she said
he was In his room all night driving horses as he
supposed. He mad spent much money on horses
and seemed TO be insane on that subject. She said
that the man he stabbed was an attendant at the
insane asylum. Bryant attempted to escape from
the asylum, but was pursued, and, turning upon
his pursuers, stabbed this man.
A DEAD NAVAL vETRRAN.-The venerable Chas
v. Morris, OF the Navy, whose death at Sackett's
HarDor, New YORK, ON Monday, aged eighty-1ve
years, was mentioned in yesterdays STAR was
well known here, and is well remembered by all
the older omcers OF the Navy. AS stated, he was
the Declaration Of Independence. When boy he
went 10 sea as petty officer, and served num-
Der OF years as masters mate and later as MASTER
seeing much active service. He was attached TO
and was there at the commencement OF the war
When the officers at the yard resigned In APRIL
1861, 10 so South, he with Admiral Dahlgren then
IN charge OF the Ordnance Department., remained
at Ine yaIu. Mhen the mail steamers MT. Vernon,
King Philip, Baltimore and Philadelphia were
seized ana taken TO the navy yard by the three
mOntnS troops 1t was Captain Morris as he was
called, VINO saw that they were armed and
manned, ana taking the first-named boat, with q
IeW sailors and marines, nineteen in all, he pa
trolied the river prior to April 20 and when Ellis
WOrthS ZouaVeS entered Alexandria in May he
mad command OF one OF the boats used to trans
port them from GiesbOro. Captain Norris was for
o long series OF years a communicant OF Christ
lEp1scopaD church, for some time member Of the
vestry, and he, with his wife, WaA white here
ioremost IN an charitable enterprises In that sec
ttOn Of the city.
ARRAIGNED FOR MURDER-To-day. In the Grim
maj court, George Holmes cOlOred man. indicted
for murder in having, on the 23d Of January last,
asSaute0 DAVID II. Banks with q club, fracturtng
ms Skull and causing the death of the latter, on
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